The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-04-13
PUGILIsT AND PRESIDENT.
The Interview Bet~ cen Sullivan and DIR.
Cleveland-The Champions Advice.


The Interview Bet~ cen Sullivan and Dir.
Cleveland-The Champions Advice.
Courier Journal Washington Special
The great hero of the reception at the
White House to-day was John L. Sullivan.
The President was scarcely noticed. Sulli-
van came to the Executive Mansion in a
hired carriage, accompanied by Pat Sheedy,
his hacker. The two worthless staggered
into the East Room, where about 200 ladies
and gentlemen were standing or sitting,
awaiting the arrival of Mr.. Cleveland. The
prize fighters took of their hats and walked
to the other end of the room, where they
we're soon surrounded by a number of news
paper men, to whom Sheedy introduced
Sullivan. The President was little bit late
getting down stairs, and the delay gave
every one ample opportunity to inspect the
fstic champion. The men exhibited more
curiosity than the ladies, although q few of
the latter walked past the slugger at a re-
spectful distance, and when they returned
to their friends remarked that he didn't look
one bit like big prize-fghter. Sullivan
took all the honors paid him as something
he was used to, and ne appeared to be max
ing an effort to unbend sufficiently
to meet the requirements of the
occasion and the company he was in.
Finally the President arrived. His
coming was announced by throwing
open the doors which cut the East Room
off from the private part of the mansion.
Sullivan did not fall into the line of visit
ors. He was too great for that, evidently.
When he saw that the reception was TO be
in the nature of procession, he stalked
over to one of the sofas and sat down in
gloomy grandeur, apparently determined
10 have a special interview or nothing, and
even indicating that he would not think it
much amiss if the President was brought
over to him and introduced. Sheedy, who
seems to be very bright one, waited ia
vorable opportunity, and when there was
a little thinning out of the line
motioned to Sullivan to come for
ward, and Sullivan did so. Standing to
the left of his charge, Sheedy said to
the President, whose hand he took: 'Mr.
President, the reason for our coming to see
you is that we heard you were getting
little too much flesh on you; L have
brought Mr.. Sullivan uD to give you few
rounds, if you desire il. He will put some
of the Sullivan administration into you"
Mr.. Cleveland dropped MIR. Sheedy's hand
and took Sullivau's, laughing heartily as
greeted the champion, and then he said in
a complimentary way: Il don't think L
would want more than one blow from hi IN ;
that would be enough for me-"
President looking well, and then he moved
of, followed by an admiring crowd, who
seemed to have forgotten the President en-
tirely as they escorted the champion to the
front door. On the portico of the White
House Sullivan halted awhile, at his man.
sger's suggestion, and gave some Of the boys
his impression of Cleveland. when |
shook hands with him." said Sull van, Il
guessed he weighed two fifty, and that he
was not in such bad condition as had been
reported. He seems TO be all right, and II
he weighs more than | think, all be wants
is treatment of Turkish baths. He wants
to let pastry and sweet things alone, be-
cause they make fat. Whisky, did you
say? That will do him good if he uses it
properly. But 1, myself, can't fool
with it,
Sullivan was then asked about his arm.
He lifted that member, and pulling up his
coat sleeve with his right hand, showed his
left wrist bandaged tightly in linen. "My
arm is all right" said Sullivan; $50 far as
the bone is concerned, that is as good as
ever, and I'm not bit afraid OF it. But
there is q soreness about this wrist below
the break, and have blistered it with
good effect. The reason my wrist is sore
account for in this way: When my arm
was broken the only support my hand
bad was the Egaments, the ulnar muscles,
l think, you call them. That made a
strain, and there is no treatment for that
strain, while the arm was done up in plas-
ter and the bone knitting. Now that 1 try
to use my hand lind the weak spot Is in
the wrist, and not in the forearm, but with
rubbing and an occasional blister ii will
come out all right. 1t does not affect my
strength. 1t is simply painful. l am not
in training at all, he continued, but
ought to be, as l weigh about twenty five
pounds too much. | haven't touched a
drop of liquor since last July, and when
think ii safe will have no trouble in get
ting into good trim"
When asked how far the combination ex.
pected to travel, Sullivan said they were
going as far West as st. Louis, making one
night stands in the smaller towns in Penn.
sylvania and Ohio. Then they would 60
to San Francisco and sail directly fol
Australia, to be gone a couple of years
Although Sullivan's eye is bright aud
clear, he does not look in good condition.
There is beefiBess about his face and
neck that makes the flesh roll into creases
whenever he turns his close-cropped head,
which shows lack OF exercise. His color
is not good; he looks like a man who sit:
up a good deal at night. There is pallol
and general staleness about Sullivan thai
ind icates his best days have gone by.
II never felt better in my life" he said
to reporter. what is my program me
Well, Just now / am on three months
exhibition tour. In June l shall meet
Patsey Cardiff, and in September l sail fol-
Australia. Two years from now, if YOU
want to look that far, am going to quit
the ring and retire on fortune"
where will you meet Cardif?'
SIN Indianapolis"
'Do you have any doubt as to the out
come of the fightp"
None in the world. 1 can whip him anC
would have done it before il my arm hao
not broken. As to my other rumored fight
1 can tell you that the proposed match with
Kilrain is of, and that Jim Smith is mo-
coming over from England"
Have you any matches arranged in Aus
tralia2'
mo, but think some will be fixed "
after we get there. don't know how Ions
| will stay in Australia"
Sullivan weighs 235 pounds at present, bu
bis flesh is so evenly distributed all owe
his body that be does not look as heavy a
he really is. He will not train below 2O
for the Cardiff fight.